Overview

- Mont de Menouve - 3.051 m -

Mont de Menouve 3.051m

Little regular pyramid formed by three crest and as many faces; sited on frontier ridge between Italy and Switzerland and between Menouve North-eastern Pass (2.775m), in Southwest, and Molline (2.915m), in Northeast. To Northwest present a steep rocky wall about 500 meters high, but, in spite of that all to appeal to climbing, the quality he is not up to it; even that of crest is bad. Nonetheless the mountain is enough known and popular (especially in ski-mountaineering), thanks to proximity with Swiss Super Saint Bernard Cable-Railway (from Bourg Saint Bernard (1.927m) to Menouve North-eastern Pass, nearby the Becs Noirs). Recommended the traverse on frontier crest from pass to pass, passing through a circular clockwise also anti tour, without substantial difference, the Molline and Menouve Valleys; in descent towards Molline Valley is possible utilize the SE Slope, by "clapeys" (= great rotten and broken rocks) with debris and rubbles.
Good panoramic point, through views in 250° towards North (Entremont Valley in Switzerland), Northwest (Mount Blanc Mountain Chain), South (Aosta Town and Great Paradise/The Grivola Groups) and Southeast (Emilius/Tersiva small Groups and South-eastern Graian Alps); splendid quick glances to West and Southwest Faces of Mount Velan, Eastern opposite.

Getting There

From France: through Mont Blanc Tunnel or Petit St. Bernard Pass. It isn't necessary to enter in Motorway A5, you can drive through SS.26 Aosta direction.

BY PLANE:

Aeroporto Internazionale "Corrado Gex" Saint Christophe (Aosta).

Moving the cursor one can see the overall scene

Approach A

Through Menouve North eastern Pass (2.775m): from Saint Oyen Village (1.373m) to Farm Holidays or from Etroubles Village (1.264m) in SS. 27 of the Great Saint Bernard, also from Vachery Village (1.332m), by paths n° 18, 19A to Agriturisme, and, through dirt road, to obstruction, in quota 1.608m~, near Quaye Alp; continue, by North direction, always by ground road, between Menouve Torrent/Menouve Ru (= very old little brook for irrigation) to Menouve Alp (1.913m). By Northwest direction, path in left diagonal ascent, to Trecaoudette Alp (2.133m). From pasture, by the lower ground road to Menouve Torrent, near Menouve Tsa (2.243m; generally the most higher pasture, but no in this occasion for construction of the New Alp) in East, at the end of Mount Menouve/Great Moline Southern small Buttress. From hairpin bend 2.315m, by Northwest direction, to Tsa Nouva Pasture (2.426m). From alp go up, by same route towards Menouve South-western Pass (2.758m, and continue to the fork of paths in quota 2.645m; turn right (North-northeast) and, before through rare traces between two little torrent of Menouve Torrent into a small valley after by debris and rubbles, reach the Menouve North eastern Pass (2.775m; cable railway Station in Summit; EE; 2h'30/3h'00).

***ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: by preceding route go up as far as the sixth hairpin bend of the dirt road after the signal of obstruction, near the Quaye Pasture(1.550m~); by North-northwest direction and through higher path n° 21 in briefly to arrive to Combe Germa(i)n Alp (1.863m). From alp, leaving right (North) the last "baita" (= higher alpine construction or shelter), in short reach the nearby of Plan Bois (1.893m); by a long in North-northwest diagonal, through a larch nice forest and leaving down the Menouve Pasture, rejoin with Tracaoudette Alp (2.133m). From this, same direction and same trail, leaving under the ground road, cross a little first torrent, descending from Barasson Point (2.963m), and a second with tiny lake. To come at an isolated alp and immediately afterwards to the Tsa Nouva (= New) Alp (2.426m), where ending even the dirt road of Menouve Pasture (2.243m), through a narrow hairpin road series (E; 0h'45; in all 1h'30/1h'45).

Approach B

Through South western Molline Pass (2.915m): from Etroubles-Quaye Alp (1.550m~), by previous route towards Menouve Alp (1.913m) ; from pasture, by North direction, dirt road to Arvus Alp (1.988m), in the entrance of Molline Vallon, below the South-western Slope of Mount Velan. Go up, by North direction, a unnumbered and fairly steep path in grassy slope towards a first little ancient alp (ruins), in quota 2.140m~, near the fork, with path n° 21, in small tableland. By n° 21, turn 230m~ in right (East) and go up, along and in edge of pronounced right lateral moraine, to quota 2.383m and the following Molline Bivouac/Refuge (2.415m; in peak season with keeper), near Moline Alp. From bivouac and alp, by North direction, unnumbered path to fork paths 2.519m, near the junction of two Molline small Torrents. By Northwest direction, both paths, to cross, along two torrents, the great debris Tableland to junction 2.580m. Continue, same direction; by more and more steep traces of path in moraine on final 130/150 meters, or snowfields in terminal part (at the beginning of season), reach the South western Molline Pass (2.915m), between Mount Menouve or Rayons de la Madeleine/Crête Seche Point (EE; 2h'45/3h'15).

Route A

From Menouve North eastern Pass (2.775m): cross right (East) on W-SW Crest, through unsteady rocks, the frontier crest reaching a first quota 2.902m; from this, changing Northeast direction and by same of route typology, catch up with a second equally high (non good the traverse on Southern Slope). The terminal part in East-northeast go up to Summit by easy but rather steep, broken rocks and delicate route, above all in the of snow presence (EE/A; F+; 0h'45/1h'00).

Route B

From South western Molline Pass (2.915m): from Molline South western Pass (2.915m) climb more easily, than we expected, on N-NE or frontier Ridge, by less attractive and enough steep rocks; overcoming some brief passages also doubling in right or left alternatively (sometimes exposed; I°+/II°-; on edge II°+; 135 meters), in short reach the Summit (EE/A; F+ or PD- integrally on edge; 0h'30 from pass; 3h'30 altogether).

Route C

SSE Crest and SE Slope (usable route through descent): it's possible and helpful in descent go down by route on SE Slope. After an initial start from S-SE Crest (100/150 meters; I°) go down through easy reddish rocky plate slabs and turning some boulders. Reached the better and favourable point, but before reach the of the quota crest 2.955m, directly descend by "clapeys", stony grounds and rubbles towards Molline Valley, reaching at fork 2.580m, near with same name torrent; from this point return through Approach B (EE; F; 0h'45 from Summit; 1h'15/1h'30 in ascent).